How did OSU keep Dunn, Hubbard and Wallace?
STILLWATER — One of the first sentences out of Mike Gundy's mouth when he addressed the media after Oklahoma State's loss in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 28 was a quick page-turn to his excitement about 2020.
“I am so excited about the future of Oklahoma State football,” he said that night at NRG Stadium in Houston. “I can't wait to get started.”
At that moment, OSU associate head coach Kasey Dunn was set to become the offensive coordinator at UNLV; Chuba Hubbard seemed like a lock to leave for the NFL; and no one really knew whether Tylan Wallace would stay for his senior season.
Four weeks later, all three are staying in Stillwater, and Gundy has professed his belief that the Cowboys are contenders. But how, exactly, did Gundy and the Cowboys pull it off?
How did Gundy get Dunn t o unload t he U- Haul, and Hubbard and Wallace to pass on the payday of pro football
in exchange for another year of classwork?
Let's start with the biggest victory of all: keeping Hubbard, a legitimate Heisman contender for much of the season who led the nation in rushing and allpurpose yards.
It began with Gundy and his staff — particularly strength coach Rob Glass, who is the go-between for players and NFL people when a player is looking at leaving early — giving Hubbard their assessment of his value as a pro prospect.
“We got out front early on where he stood and where we thought he could improve,” Gundy told The Oklahoman this week. “I think he realizes he's only 20 years old. He's only played 15 games at this level. At his position, it's such a physical game.
“The thing I shared with him, I don't want to be the one to tell him he should have gone. He has the most upside with any player we've had, to come back.
“Chuba has a chance to be a three-down back (in the NFL). That's my opinion.”
Gundy says he lured Dunn the old-fashioned way.
“We gave him more years and more money,” Gundy said.
Like they did when other schools were looking at Dunn a year ago, Gundy and athletic director Mike Holder put together a contract extension with a raise for Dunn to keep him where he and his family are happy.
Last year, Dunn got a contract through the 2021 season at $550,000 per year with a $50,000 retention bonus to be paid each year on April 1. The details of his new contract have not yet been made available.
Gundy says t he contract was all it took. No promise of a promotion, which eventually came. But at the time of the deal, Gundy didn't know offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson was on the verge of leaving for Rutgers.
“I didn't have any idea, when we were able to re- recruit Kasey, that Sean was leaving,” Gundy said. “I didn't think, at that time, he was going to leave. All this transpired even before the bowl game.
“Then Rutgers upped the ante and persuaded Sean to come back. We lost out on the proximity. At that point, I interviewed quite a few guys really quick. Wasn't sure what direction I was going to go.”
Gundy stumbled across Tim Rattay, and knew Gundy had t he quarterbacks coach he wanted. That allowed Gundy to move Dunn into the offensive coordinator role and reset the offensive staff while maintaining comfort and familiarity.
“That allowed us to put Kasey in charge, and he's earned the right to do it,” Gundy said. “The timing was good. I was fortunate Tim was available, the Redskins (coaching staff) got fired, and this is a great opportunity for Kasey. Gives him a chance to do what he wants to do.”
Wallace's decision was the most predictable of the three, following the torn ACL suffered on Oct. 30.
“In my opinion, Tylan would have been ready to go,” Gundy said. “But once the injury happened, I would have said, `you can't go to the combine, you can't train, you can't work out, can't have a (pro day).' He would have fallen to late fourth or fifth or later.
“We never know for sure, but based on the facts, he made the right decision.”